Browns offense DOMINATES

[TheClevelandSound]

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/...ense_domin.html

 

BEREA, Ohio -- Quick observations on Browns organized team activity (OTA) practice ...

 

* It happened to be red zone day on Coach Eric Mangini's schedule, and the offense dominated, scoring at will with the Nos. 1 and 2 units on plays inside the 20. We haven't seen that in a while.

 

* Jake Delhomme was sharp with his throws, hooking up at least twice in the end zone with tight end Ben Watson. If there's anything wrong with Delhomme's throwing arm or elbow, it sure wasn't evident.

 

* Backup Seneca Wallace displayed the ability to move from pressure, buy time and find throwing lanes. He was very accurate in these situations, putting the ball where the receivers need it.

 

* In sum, there was a stark contrast in quarterback play from what we've been accustomed to seeing. Decisions were made crisply. Receivers didn't have to lay out for the ball. Very few balls hit the ground. Chatting with reporters off to the side, President Mike Holmgren said that's the way it's supposed to be at this time of year. Quarterbacks shouldn't be spraying the ball all over the place in OTAs.

 

* The new linebackers didn't line up as expected. In team drills, Scott Fujita was mostly outside and Chris Gocong mostly inside. But there were times when they switched spots from play to play. Fujita said to expect to see a lot of that because the deception is effective and all the linebackers (for the most part) have the flexibility to play inside or outside.

 

* One who doesn't is D'Qwell Jackson. The inside linebacker joined the four other restricted free agents in not attending. Also missing, as expected, was kicker Phil Dawson. In Dawson's place, recent free agent pickup Shaun Swisham had difficulty getting kickoffs inside the 10-yard line.

* In 90 minutes, I didn't see a single dropped pass by a receiver.

 

* Brian Robiskie and Josh Cribbs both came down with splendid receptions in the end zone in red zone drills.

 

* There was a collision between tight end Robert Royal and cornerback Coye Francies that looked worse than it actually was. For a moment, it looked like both players were injured. Both got up gingerly but neither appeared seriously hurt. The collision caused an incompletion, prompting defensive coordinator Rob Ryan to bark, "Bout time we play some defense."

 

* Players on hand who did not participate because of ongoing rehab from 2009 injuries included Shaun Rogers, Eric Barton, Dave Zastudil and C.J. Mosley. Tight end Evan Moore did not participate, coach Eric Mangini said, because of illness.

 

* Rookie draft picks T.J. Ward and Larry Asante manned the safety positions in tandem in a lot of team drills.

 

* Rookie guard Shawn Lauvao is this year's Alex Mack. Lauvao had to run laps two times for jumping the snap count. Yes, they're still doing laps in Mangini's second season.

 

I put in bold things I feel are important.

[drake54]

hate to say it but the laps are a good thing. If you dont wanna run than dont mess up pretty simple.

 

maybe we can have good QB play this year start the ball rolling.

[CLEVELandMILIDH]

It all sounds good, but I'll get more excited when they look sharp with pads on and aint pickin on a bunch of rookies. 2 rookie safetys starting since Elams a holdout and Haden playing. These guys may be talented but they have a lot of learning to do between now and the start of the season.

[Zombo]

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/...ense_domin.html

 

 

* Jake Delhomme was sharp with his throws, hooking up at least twice in the end zone with tight end Ben Watson. If there's anything wrong with Delhomme's throwing arm or elbow, it sure wasn't evident.

 

* Backup Seneca Wallace displayed the ability to move from pressure, buy time and find throwing lanes. He was very accurate in these situations, putting the ball where the receivers need it.

 

* In sum, there was a stark contrast in quarterback play from what we've been accustomed to seeing. Decisions were made crisply. Receivers didn't have to lay out for the ball. Very few balls hit the ground. Chatting with reporters off to the side, President Mike Holmgren said that's the way it's supposed to be at this time of year. Quarterbacks shouldn't be spraying the ball all over the place in OTAs.

 

So nice to hear about sharp quarterbacking.

 

Thank God they blew up the postion and started completely over. Two veterans from winning organizations.

 

Exactly what our young receivers needed.

 

Zombo

[jnuh]

That was a good quick read. Hopefully that stuff carries over into the season. I am really hoping we see signs of life from Robo as he is my fourth WR on my fantasy football team in my dynasty league

[ballpeen]

hate to say it but the laps are a good thing. If you dont wanna run than dont mess up pretty simple.

 

maybe we can have good QB play this year start the ball rolling.

 

 

Why hate to say it??

 

 

I would have bolded that....just a reminder that discipline is expected in games, and you play games the way you practice.

 

[ClevelandFanForLife]

i don't want to be a downer to everybody, but did you see our defense last year? almost every offense dominated against our defense.

[choco]

Except our offense...which couldn't score on a $2 whore.

[mopaji]

It's OTAs. Until week one of the regular season, it means nothing. The only good thing was that no balls hit the ground. That's gonna give everyone on offense some confidence.

[nobuo]

Our football play in October and November, right in the thick of the playoff race, will be a result of these seemingly small details back here in May, June and July. If the foundation isn't laid properly, and these little things (like discipline, which really isn't that little) aren't put into place now, come Winter, we'll be in the same place we were last year. Balls not hitting the ground, and running laps may seem insignificant, but I seem to remember years past where our QBs weren't even able to complete passes in these OTAs and most of us brushed it off as, "well it's the preseason, they're not there yet". I'm really glad that these little things are in order so we can start looking at the big things.

 

Vince Lombardi started every seaon with a lecture on the basics, "This is a football." Don't try to pretend like these basics aren't important. They're everything.

[The Gipper]

Except our offense...which couldn't score on a $2 whore.

 

Where do you go to find a $2 whore?

[The Gipper]

It's OTAs. Until week one of the regular season, it means nothing. The only good thing was that no balls hit the ground. That's gonna give everyone on offense some confidence.

 

 

I agree. I ain't gonna get excited about anything that happens in May, or June, or August really. Not until September 15 will there truly be anything to be excited about.

[Bag O'Browns]

Small things in these sort of enviroments lead to big things on the field. Delhomme and Seneca coming in and looking sharp is a positive sign no matter of the importance of these practices. As we all know confidence plays a HUGE role in sports, so if little things can be gained like Robo remembering he can make plays and Delhomme getting back his swagger, then these OTA's have served their goal.

 

I just love the improved talent on the field even with the holdouts. Good stuff.

[choco]

Where do you go to find a $2 whore?

The southside...homewood...wilkensburg...

 

No front teeth and gladly work for crack.

[NewEraDawg]

$2 crack may be the problem as I see it .

 

[drake54]

Why hate to say it??

 

 

I would have bolded that....just a reminder that discipline is expected in games, and you play games the way you practice.

 

 

cause i personally hate running with a passion.

 

its good they learn not to do it know. and like was stated our offense can use confidence going into the new season keep it going from the end of last year.

[SJ_Browns]

Our football play in October and November, right in the thick of the playoff race, will be a result of these seemingly small details back here in May, June and July. If the foundation isn't laid properly, and these little things (like discipline, which really isn't that little) aren't put into place now, come Winter, we'll be in the same place we were last year. Balls not hitting the ground, and running laps may seem insignificant, but I seem to remember years past where our QBs weren't even able to complete passes in these OTAs and most of us brushed it off as, "well it's the preseason, they're not there yet". I'm really glad that these little things are in order so we can start looking at the big things.

 

Vince Lombardi started every seaon with a lecture on the basics, "This is a football." Don't try to pretend like these basics aren't important. They're everything.

 

good post. nobody is saying success in the otas automatically means you'll be successful in the regular season. it's just good to see that the mistakes and imperfections we saw in the past with our qbs and receivers aren't present in this years otas. hopefully, they can build off of that.

 

you have to start somewhere and doing the little things right sets you up to do the big things right.

[miktoxic]

yeah delhomme might look good now but wait till the regular season when someone sneaks thru our weak right side and slams him into the turf like an old bag of chicken bones. i gotta feeling that wallace better be ready to lace 'em up pretty quick. i hope that's not the case but i think that might have been our worse off-season move this year.

[NW Ohio Brownie]

Read closely, guys. Now the part about players running laps is just a footnote. Last year at this time it was a full-blown media controversy.

 

The difference? The establishment of Mangini's discipline and culture of accountability.

 

On another note, although it's just shorts and helmets, it's good to finally hear some positive news about the QB play.

[s-eohiodoggy]

Where do you go to find a $2 whore?

 

Pittsburg? But who would want them.

 

[beefjerky]

I recall a thread that ATENEARS posted(search through his threads made if you care enough) around this time last year, he was saying how bad both QBs (Anderson and Quinn) looked, and that they were both terrible in preseason activities, you know what happened in the regular season.

 

So while this report doesn't guarantee success, it's definitely a step in the right direction when we hear about solid QB play.

[Bag O'Browns]

I recall a thread that ATENEARS posted(search through his threads made if you care enough) around this time last year, he was saying how bad both QBs (Anderson and Quinn) looked, and that they were both terrible in preseason activities, you know what happened in the regular season.

 

So while this report doesn't guarantee success, it's definitely a step in the right direction when we hear about solid QB play.

 

Well said Beef! I recalled the very samething and then thought to myself right after.."well that translated straight into the regular season now didn't it?" What is cool is this isn't even including McCoy, who i'm sure will also show us something.

 

Having credible players at the QB position should do wonders for our team. Having a guy the head coach can trust doesn't hurt one bit either.

[SJ_Browns]

good post. nobody is saying success in the otas automatically means you'll be successful in the regular season. it's just good to see that the mistakes and imperfections we saw in the past with our qbs and receivers aren't present in this years otas. hopefully, they can build off of that.

 

you have to start somewhere and doing the little things right sets you up to do the big things right.

 

here's a flash from the past. an article from last seasons otas:

 

BEREA, Ohio -- Browns coach Eric Mangini explained Tuesday why the quarterbacks have looked a little ragged this week and last week during voluntary practices.

 

"It's a group thing," said Mangini. "If the routes are run crisper and at a more precise depth, then some of the throws will improve as they learn some the reads better and the plays better."

 

Mangini also said the staff has thrown "a ton of stuff at them and it's high, high, high volume. We're exposing the group to as much as possible, as opposed to getting it in small chunks."

 

Last Thursday, both quarterbacks were picked off in their two-minute drills, Derek Anderson by D'Qwell Jackson and Brady Quinn by rookie Coye Francies. Tuesday, both players had passes batted down at the line of scrimmage -- Anderson by Kenyon Coleman and Quinn by Leon Williams, and cornerback Eric Wright got his hands on a deep Quinn pass, but it was ruled out of bounds.

 

Anderson also had to take a lap after a botched trick play, but the errant snap wasn't his fault.

_____________________________________________________________________________

 

what a team does in the regular season starts with what they do in mini camp, the otas and training camp. you have to build off of something in order to have a chance to be successful in the regular season.